East London in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), East London sees average daytime highs around 24°C and overnight lows near 20°C, with 247 mm of rain over about 35 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 22°C in early December to 25°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels muggy.
Summer is East London's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see East London's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 24°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 20°C
- Rainfall
- 247 mm
- 35 wet days
- Avg wind
- 19 km/h
- Travel score
- 6.6
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in East London in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 22°C in early December to 25°C by late February.
A typical summer day in East London reaches about 24°C and drops to 20°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
East London weather by month
How the three summer months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24° / 21° | 81 | 11.6 | 13.9 | 6.7 |
| Feb | 25° / 21° | 84 | 10.9 | 13.2 | 6.6 |
| Mar | 24° / 20° | 90 | 12.1 | 12.3 | 6.8 |
| Apr | 23° / 19° | 85 | 9.6 | 11.2 | 7.0 |
| May | 22° / 17° | 34 | 5.7 | 10.3 | 7.7 |
| Jun | 21° / 15° | 34 | 4.5 | 9.9 | 7.7 |
| Jul | 20° / 14° | 38 | 5.1 | 10 | 7.6 |
| Aug | 20° / 14° | 47 | 6.9 | 10.8 | 7.1 |
| Sep | 20° / 15° | 57 | 7.6 | 11.8 | 6.8 |
| Oct | 21° / 17° | 77 | 11.3 | 12.8 | 6.3 |
| Nov | 22° / 18° | 84 | 11.6 | 13.7 | 6.3 |
| Dec | 23° / 19° | 83 | 12.5 | 14.1 | 6.5 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
East London gets around 247 mm of rain over 35 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 19 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 14 hours in early December to 12 h 48 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 6.0 kWh/m².
Is summer a good time to visit East London?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a reasonable time to visit East London for sightseeing.
What to pack for East London in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, East London sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 20°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes and rain gear. About 35 days see rain.
Sea temperature near East London in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 24°C across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 13 km away) is warmest in February at about 25°C and coldest in August near 20°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24 | Warm |
| Feb | 25 | Warm |
| Mar | 25 | Warm |
| Apr | 24 | Warm |
| May | 23 | Refreshing |
| Jun | 22 | Refreshing |
| Jul | 21 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 20 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 21 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 21 | Refreshing |
| Nov | 22 | Refreshing |
| Dec | 23 | Refreshing |
UV index in East London in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in East London peaks around January 16 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 23 at about 3 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 13 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Extreme |
| Feb | 11 | Extreme |
| Mar | 9 | Very high |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 4 | Moderate |
| Jun | 3 | Moderate |
| Jul | 3 | Moderate |
| Aug | 5 | Moderate |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 10 | Very high |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 11 | Extreme |
Air quality in East London in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in East London is worst in August — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.6× the cleanest month (February, 8 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 8 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 8 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Good |
| Feb | 8 | Good |
| Mar | 9 | Good |
| Apr | 12 | Good |
| May | 15 | Moderate |
| Jun | 17 | Moderate |
| Jul | 17 | Moderate |
| Aug | 20 | Moderate |
| Sep | 16 | Moderate |
| Oct | 12 | Moderate |
| Nov | 9 | Good |
| Dec | 8 | Good |
Where is East London?
East London sits at 33.0°S, 27.9°E, 48 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Gonubie, 12 km away.
Topography around East London
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of East London.
Within 3 km, the terrain around East London has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 105 m around an average of 36 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 321 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,652 m.
The land around East London is covered by artificial surfaces (36%), water (33%) and trees (22%) within 3 km, water (48%) and trees (30%) within 16 km, and water (33%), grassland (32%) and trees (25%) within 80 km.
South Africa travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type C / M / N
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 41% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $6,598
- 2025
- Happiness
- 5.0 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 68%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 43.7
- per 100k, 2022
- Road deaths
- 22.2
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Very high
- EF EPI 602
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for East London (-33.0153°, 27.9116°, elevation 48 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.